Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
PROMOTION OF INLAND NAVIGATION
To promote Inland Water Transport  in the country, 111 waterways  spread over 24 states have been declared as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project Reports  of the NWs, 26 NWs have been found viable for cargo/passenger movement as detailed at Annex.-1.
To promote inland waterways as a supplementary, eco-friendly and cheaper mode of transport, waterway usage charges levied by the IWAI on vessels moving on National Waterways have been waived in July 2020, initially for a period of three years.
In addition to pre-2016 existing 5 NWs, development of 9 new NWs for promotion of inland shipping have been taken up as detailed at Annex.-2.
Annex.-1
LIST OF 26 NATIONAL WATERWAYS 
FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO / PASSENGER MOVEMENT
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Sl. No
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NW
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Details of Waterways
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Length 
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STATES
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1
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NW 1
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Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System 
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1620
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Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal
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2
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NW 2
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Brahmaputra River 
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891
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Assam
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3
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NW 16
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Barak River 
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121
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Assam
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4
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NW 3
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West Coast Canal , Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals
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205
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Kerala
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5
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NW 4
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Krishna River 
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82
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Andhra Pradesh
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6
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NW 5
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Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal
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233
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Odisha
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7
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NW 8
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Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal
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29
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Kerala
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8
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NW 9
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Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal
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40
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Kerala 
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9
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NW 27
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Cumberjua River 
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17
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Goa
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10
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NW 68
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Mandovi River 
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41
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Goa
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11
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NW 86
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Rupnarayan River 
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72
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West Bengal
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12
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NW 97
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Sunderbans Waterway 
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172
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West Bengal
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13
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NW 111
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Zuari River 
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50
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Goa
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14
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NW 40
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Ghagra River 
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345
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Bihar & U.P.
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15
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NW 10
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Amba River 
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45
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Maharashtra
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16
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NW 44
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Ichamati River 
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63
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West Bengal
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17
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NW 52
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Kali River 
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53
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Karnataka
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18
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NW 57
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Kopili River 
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50
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Assam
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19
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NW 25
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Chapora River 
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25
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Goa
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20
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NW 37
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Gandak River 
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296
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Bihar & U.P.
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21
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NW 28
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Dabhol Creek Vasisti River 
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45
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Maharashtra
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22
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NW 73
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Narmada River 
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226
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Maharashtra & Gujarat
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23
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NW 85
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Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System 
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31
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Maharashtra
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24
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NW 94
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Sone River 
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141
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Bihar
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25
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NW 100
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Tapi River 
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436
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Maharashtra & Gujarat
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26
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NW 31
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Dhansiri River 
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110
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Assam
Annex.-2
The details of projects initiated on the 09 new national waterways:
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Sl. No
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NW
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Details of Waterways/States
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Length 
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Projects started
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1
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NW 16
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Barak River  in Assam
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121
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Development of NW 16 and IBP route at a cost of Rs 145 crore during 2020-21 to 2024-25 was approved by SFC. Declared as National Waterway-16 , Barak River connects Silchar, Karimganj and Badarpur in Cacher valley of Assam through road/waterway with Haldia and Kolkata ports through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol  Route. There are 10 activities as approved by SFC for NW-16 & IBP route. Out of these 10 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz,  Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river,  Construction of terminal at Maia on Ganga River and  Upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals, which are in consideration. The remaining 07 activities are of recurring nature viz.,  Fairway development  O&M of navigational aids  Consultancy training  cargo promotion, and  amenities at Ports of Call etc. These activities are carried out on annual maintenance basis under implementation at 2.55% progress till October 2022.
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2
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NW 8
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Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal in Kerala
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29
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Development proposed as per DPR recommendations. 24 hours navigational aids  provided at critical locations and being maintained.
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3
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NW 9
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Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal in Kerala
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40
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Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been installed. Waterway is already operational.
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4
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NW 27
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Cumberjua River  in Goa
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17
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NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & IWAI. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.11.33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. In addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.04.2022 for induction of navigational Aids.
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5
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NW 68
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Mandovi River  in Goa
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41
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6
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NW 111
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Zuari River  in Goa
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50
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7
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NW 86
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Rupnarayan River  in West Bengal
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72
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Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 24.00 crore has commenced. Improvement to road from NH to water front terminal at Kolaghat at a cost of Rs.15.45 crore is being executed by Irrigation Dept., Govt. of West Bengal on deposit basis. Floating pontoon jetty is under construction for facilitating loading and unloading of fly-ash cargo. Permanent terminal is also proposed at Kolaghat for which land acquisition completed in June 2022 and development is considered through annual scheme.
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8
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NW 97
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Sunderbans Waterway  in West Bengal
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172
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Development of waterway at an estimated cost of INR 18.10 crore has commenced. Dredging work by department dredger is proposed. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels.
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9.
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NW 40
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River Ghagra 
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354
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An amount of Rs. 11.60 cr. has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys.
Scheme at a cost of Rs. 4.46 cr. has been sanctioned during 2021-22 for development under Phase-I of the waterway.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.